Apparatus for soldering



OcLls, 1931. A HADAMS 1,826,710

APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING Original Filed Nov. 19, 1927 l ll '1 rw [@QQSSQSQQS @d/@W H44. I @a closed.

Patented Oct.k 13, `1.931

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR H. ADAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN OR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY,

`INCORPORATIED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING Original application led November 19, 1927, Serial No. 234,362. Divided and this application filed July '15, 1930. Serial No. 468,159.

This invention relates to apparatus for lead wires 11 to terminal members 12 of a soldering, and more particularly to aparatus multiple telephone jack 13. The terminal for soldering with a low tension arc, and is a members 12 may be provided with overlapped division of my copending application Serial No. 234,362, liled November 19, 1927. and 5, which upon `dipping the ends in a Objects of the invention are to provide an bath of molten solder will cause a particle ei'ective and efcient apparatus for producof the solder to adhere between. the overing soldered parts at an increased rate of lapped portions or the ends may be provided output. with partially severed portions which are In accordance withthe general features of bent upwardly and solder applied thereto by the invention, a part to be soldered is prodropping a hot particle of the solder near the vided with a particle of solder and the part end. Contact is made with all of the terminal itself is used as an electrode. When the part members simultaneously by a multiple plug to be joined thereto has been located in posi- 14 which connects all of the terminal memtion an electrode is brought into such proX- bers with the soldering circuit. Each termiimity to the parts as .to permit a. high potennal member will thus form anelectrode which tial, high frequency source of electrical enis associated with another electrode 15 in the ergy to produce an arc and thus to ionize the soldering operation. The welding electrode gap, whereupon the energy required for the 15 is surrounded by an insulating tube 16 soldering operation will be supplied from a preferably of quartz which extends beyond low tension direct current source across the the end of the electrode leaving-a cylindrical ionized gap. In accordance with one embodicavity which completely encloses the arc when ment of the invention, particles of solder are the tube and the electrode are i operative reapplied to a plurality of parts which are then lation to a part as shown in Fig. 3, thereby associated with other parts and sequentially soldered. l l

It is believed that a complete understanding of the'invention may be had by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

sult from an unenclosed are being directed upon a metallic part and retaining the ionized gases to forma low resistance path after the arc has been started. v

In order that a low tension direct current in which Y arc may be used to supply the soldering en- Fig. 1 isa diagrammatic illustration ofthe ergy and to prevent the formation of a crater circuit connections of a soldering apparatus which results when the electrode is contacted embodying the invention; with the part to start anarc, a high frequency Fig. 2 is a plan View of a multiple telesource of energy is provided to ionize the path phone jack whose terminals are to be proof the arc, permitting a low tension direct vided with lead wires and a multi le plug current to maintain the arc duringthe solderwhich simultaneously connects all o the tering operation. minals to the soldering circuit; The high frequency current ma be ob'- Fig.`3 is a cross sectional View of an electained from a transformer 21 whic is controde showing itin operative position on a nected to any suitable source of alternatingy terminal, and y rlcurrent (not shown) of commercial fre- Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate different types of terminal members adapted to be used in connection with the'soldering apparatus disf is connected to a tuned high frequency ciradjusted so as to Ybreak down just before the voltage of thetransformer 22 reaches its maximum value, producing high frequency oscillations in the tuned, circuit 22, as Well known in the art. The high frequency a1- Referring to the drawings in which the same reference characters designate similar parts in the several views, the invention is i1- lustrated in connection with the soldering of portions at their ends, as shown in Figs. 4.

reducing the oxidizingieflect which would re quency. The secondary of the transformer' cuit 22 which is provided with a spark gapternations of the circuit 22 are transmitted to the electrodes through a transformer 23 which forms a part of tne tuned circuit 22. One side of the secondary of the transformer 23 is electrically connected to the terminal members 12 through the multiple plug 14, While the other side leads through a condenser 24 to a commutator 25 having a plu-` rality of segments. each one of which is connected to one of the slip rings 26. A brush 27 contacts with each of the slip rings 26 and connects it to one of the electrodes 15. It will thus be seen that, as the commutator and the slip rings are rotated by any suitable source of power (not shown) the electrodes 15 will be sequentially connected to the source of high frequency alternations.

The direct current soldering energy is supplied from a generator 30 and passes through a rheostat 31 and a pair of inductance coils 32. The direct current circuit is connected at one side of the multiple plug 14 and at the other side to the commutator 25 from which points it follows the same path as the high frequency circuit. The inductance coils 32 prevent the high -frequency current from flowing over the direct current circuit and the condenser 24' prevents the direct current from {iowin g over the high frequency circuit so that each of the circuits will function indenendently.

When the apparatus is used for soldering leads to the terminal members of a telephone jack the terminals are first dipped in a bath of molten solder causing a particle of solder to adhere under each of the overlapped portions on the ends of the terminal members. When the terminal members have been thus prepared, the multiple plug 14 is inserted in the jack connecting each of the terminal members to one side of the soldering circuit. The electrodes 15 are then brought into contact with a plurality of the terminal members and a lead wire is associated with each of the terminal members and placed under a slight tension to draw the lead into the solder as it is melted. A suitable flux in the form of a paste or athick liquid may be applied to the parts to be soldered and on account of the presence of the arc it is desirable to use a non-inflammable flux, as for instance a iiux consisting of resin dissolved in carbon tetrachloride in the proportion of .7'pounds ofl resin in a gallon of carbon tetrachloride. As the commutator 25 is slowly rotated, the high frequency source of current will sequentially start the arc across the gaps between the electrodes 15 and the terminal members 12 and as soon as the arc is started the soldering current will flow to effect the soldering of the associated parts as described above. The time during which the soldering current is applied may be conveniently regulated by varying the speed of rotation of the commutator 25.-'

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein described and illustrated is merely a convenient and useful form of the invention which is ca able of many other modifications Without eparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a soldering apparatus, means for connecting a part to be soldered in a soldering circuit, an enclosed electrode adapted to enclose an arc between the part and the yelectrode, a source of high voltage high frequency oscillations to start an arc, and a low tension source of current to supply the soldering energy.

2. In a soldering ap aratus, means for connecting a plurality o parts in a soldering circuit, a plurality of electrodes, each of which is adapted to be associated with a part, a source of soldering energy, and a commutator for sequentiall connecting the electrodes to the source o energy.

3. In a soldering apparatus, means for positioning a plurality of parts in spaced relation, means for connecting the parts in arallel in a soldering'circuit, a plurality o electrodes positioned in spaced relation to coact with the respective parts, means for simultaneously impressing a high voltage high frequency current and a direct current on the soldering circuit, and means for successively including the electrodes in the circuit for predetermined intervals.

4. In a soldering apparatus, a soldering circuit, means for simultaneously impressing a high voltage high frequency current and a direct current on .the circuit, a plurality of electrodes positioned in spaced relation, means for positioning a plurality of parts in spaced relation to coact with the electrodes, means for connecting said parts in the' circuit, and rotary means for successively including the electrodes in the circuit for predetermined intervals.

5. In a soldering apparatus, a soldering circuit, means for impressing a high voltage high frequency current on. the circuit, means for simultaneously impressing a direct current on the circuit, a condenser connected in series with the first mentioned means for preventing the flow of direct current therethrough, and inductive means connected in series with the second mentioned means for preventing the flow of high frequency current therethrough. J

I 6. In a soldering apparatus, a soldering circuit, means for impressing a high voltage high frequency current on the circuit, means for simultaneously impressing a direct'current on the circuit, a condenser connected in series with the first ,mentioned means for preventing the flow of direct current therethrough, inductive means connected in series with the second mentioned means for preventing the iow of high frequency current luo my name this 10th day of July A. D., 1930.

ARTHUR `H. ADAMS. 

